Draft device for railway rolling stock



Dec. 9, 1958 H. H. HlcKs DRAFT DEVICE FOR RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK Filed March 28. 195e 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IJfV Dec. 9, 1958 H. H. HICKS DRAFT DEVICE RoR RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK Filed March 28, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1| I ...rn |||l l Il 11+? DRAFT DEVICE FOR RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK Filed March 28, 1956 INVENTOR BY l nited States Patent O f' DRAFT DEVICE non RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK Harold H. Hicks', Evansville, Ind., assigner to International Steel Company, Evansville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application Marcl128, 1956, Serial No. 574,453 7 Claims. (Cl. 2713-60) This invention relates to draft members, and more particularly, to a striker used in connection with commonly known draft gear for railway rolling stock, which contains and supports a removable carrier block and coupler height adjuster for quick and easy vertical adjustment of the coupler head, when it is necessary, due to normal wear of coupler shank, carrier iron, and other parts, and wherein said draft member is adapted for attachment at the ends of center sills, for the purpose of receiving draft and buffng forces.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is the provision of a combined striker, with integral coupler height adjustment with the coupler carrier iron, for connection with the outer ends of the center sills forming a sill tie member and coupler stop or striking face, said striker bottom tie piece containing a series of holes arranged or nested to cooperate with the supporting members of the carrier iron block.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved construction of underframe and particularly the end portions thereof, wherein an integral member is provided, embracing the mean ends of the center sills incorporating less weight and cross section with substantial rigidity, by substituting an extended portion of the center sill past the draft key slot, said portion of the center sill abutting the striker vertical plates being formed to cooperate With the inner vertical surface of the center sill and extending below the bottom flanges of said sill.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a formed tie bar, which also serves as an anchor for the predetermined nesting of holes in a striker bottom tie piece in a manner suitable for graduated height adjustment and wherein said tie bar is so constructed that the carrier iron or block is securely held in place.

A still further object and advantage of my invention provides for the vertical coupler head height adjustment to be made by raising the extended plates connected to the carrier iron so that the removal and relocating of coacting case hardened pins can be accomplished Without the necessity of jacking or lifting the coupler head itself.

VAnother object and advantage of my invention is to provide a design of draft device, adapted for application, by use of the arc welding process, where fundamental materials may be used as they are received from the mill and/or after they are formed to proper dimensions, providing elasticity and simplicity by which many operations may be done prior to welding thereby adding to the .economical value derived from said process.

A still further object of my invention is the provision for use of separate front draft lugs, slot liner and/ or any combination of the foregoing, which may be applied before the sill halves are joined together thereby making Vconnection of said draft lugs and slot liner more ac- 'cessible Other and further objects of my invention reside in the construction of a welded type striker and draft lug jcouplerfheight adjustment as set forth more fully Patented Dec. 9, 1958 ice 2 in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the end portion of a center sill with the striker plate of my invention in position;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the striker plate of my invention and indicating particularly the integral coupler height adjustment;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken 'on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig 6 is a fragmentary View looking in the direction of arrows in Fig. l, from the rear, with the plates of the striking casting shown in section and illustrating the adjustment of the coupler to the intermediate position;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to the view shown in Fig. 6, illustrating the coupler adjusted to its extreme upward position;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the inverted U crosstie or anchor used in the assembly of my invention;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional viewtaken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a front elevational view showing the carrier iron vertical plates connected with the carrier iron or block; and

Fig. 1l is an end View showing the depending relation of the carrier iron vertical plates to the carrier iron or block.

My invention is directed to a very practical form of striker used in connection with draft gear for railway rolling stock in which a removable carrier block is provided and which is vertically adjustable to provide for quick and easy vertical adjustment of the coupler head when it is necessary as a result of wear of the coupler shank carrier iron or other parts. I provide an arrangement of carrier iron or block which is vertically slidable transversely of the end face of the striker plate above a cross-tie member. The cross-tie member is provided with a plurality of longitudinally aligned apertures therein adjacent the opposite ends thereof and which coact with sets of apertures arranged on longitudinally extending axes which are offset vertically with respect to each other. The apertures in the carrier iron vertical plates may be raised or lowered for alignment with the hoizontally extending apertures in the cross-tie member. By passing case hardened pins through selected aligned apertures in the carrier iron vertical or side plates and the cross-tie member,

.the carrier iron or block may be raised or lowered to sup- "conditions the case hardened pins must be passed through apertures in the carrier iron vertical plates at a level intermediate the levels of the extreme upper lower apertures heretofore described.

Referring to the drawings in more detail reference character l designates the striking bar of the vertical plates 2 -of the striking casting. The striking bar 1 is Vconnected With striking bar gussets 3. Formed gussets4 are connected to the rear of the vertically extending plates 2 for reinforcing the plates. The open central portion of the striker below the .striking ybar l and intermediate the vertical plates 2 receives a vertically adjustable-carrier iron or block S to which the carrier iron vertical plates 6 are connected at the front an'd rear thereof. The carrier iron plates 6 extend in planes transverse to the lon- *.gitudinal axis of the striker and are tutilizedrttozraiseand lower the position of the carrier iron or block 5.' This is accomplished by the provision of'a transversecrosstie or anchorzlil'rwhich is welded 1in position between fthe plates 2. This an inverted U shown more particularly in Figs. V1, 4 and '8 which is --welded at opposite `endsv to the vertical plates 2 of the striker.

The inverted YU cross-tie or anchor ischannehshape and possesses the strength characteristics of va channel and terminates :flush with the lower Aends of 'the plates"2. The opposite sides of the inverted YLJ cross-tie Vor anchor`10 contain sets `offlztorizontally#disposed'apertures shown at 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 andv20 in Fig. 8. These apertures are a'llvlon'the same horizontal level through the inverted cross-tie or anchor. The width of the inverted 'U-shaped tie or anchor 10 is substantially less than the depth of the vertical plates 2 so that the adjustable assembly of the carrier iron or Ablock 5 is housed wholly within the striker. The carrier iron vertical or side plates 6 which are welded to opposite faces of the carrier iron or block 5 and which depend therefrom are provided with horizontally extending apertures.

Theihorizontally extending apertures in the vertical or side plates 6 are represented at 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and '26. The group of apertures 21, 22 and 23 are offset from each other in an echelon arrangement with the apertures 23 on the highest level and the apertures 21 on the ilowest level vwith the apertures 22 located on an intermediate level. Similarly in the group of apertures 24, 25 and 26 the apertures 24 are located on the highest level vand the apertures 26 on the lowest level with the apertures 25 located on an intermediate level. C-ase `hardened -pins 7 vare adapted to be passed horizontally through aligned apertures for maintaining the carrier iron vertical or side plates 6 in a selected position with respect to the inverted U cross-tie or anchor 10. The case 'hardened pins7 are provided with washers 8 and cotter pins 9 for securing the case hardened pins'10 in selected positions.

lThe upper surface of the carrier iron or block 5 provides a support' for the coupler shank 11 which extends centrally between the interior sides yof the draft lug faces 12 and the cheek plates 13. By aligning sets of apertures 21 in carrier iron vertical or side plates 6 with sets of apertures 15 in inverted U cross-tie or anchor 10 and inserting pin 7 therethrough and by aligning sets of apertures 26 in carrier iron vertical or side plate 6 with sets of apertures 2i) in inverted U cross-tie or anchor 10 and inserting case hardened piny 7 therethrough, the carrier iron or block 5 is elevated to its maximum position for supporting the coupler shank 11 andthe lower extremities of the carrier iron vertical or side plate 6 are moved upwardly wholly within the bottom level of the vertical plates 2 as represented in Fig. 7. When, however, the case hardened pins 7 `are removed and the carrier iron or block 5 permitted to drop, the sets of apertures 23 in the carrier iron vertical or side plates 6 may be aligned with the sets of apertures 17 in the inverted U-shaped cross-tie or anchor 10 and the case hardened pins 7 reinserted therethrough while sets of apertures 24 in' carrier iron vertical or side plate 6 are aligned with sets of apertures 18 in the inverted U-shaped cross-tie or anchor 10 and the case hardened pins 7 inserted therethrough whereupon the carrier iron or block 5 is maintained in its lowermost position as represented in' Figs. 1, 2 and 4. Where it is necessary to support the coupler shank 11 by the carrier iron or block 5 located in a intermediate position, the case hardened pins 7 are withdrawn and sets of apertures 22 in the carrier iron vertical or side plate 6 aligned with the sets of apertures 16 in the vinverted Ul cross-tie'or anchor 10 and the case hardened'pin 7 cross-tie or anchor 1'0 :has ythe .shape of inserted `therr..through while sets of apertures 25 in carrier iron vertical or side plate 6 `are aligned with sets of apertures 19 in the inverted U cross-tie or anchor 10 and case hardened pin 7 inserted therethrough, thereby maintaining the carrier iron or block 5 in the position illustrated in Fig. 6 for supporting coupler shank 11 in an intermediate position.

While I have illustrated the apertures in the .carrier iron vertical or side plate 6 as being disposed on offset axes and the apertures in the inverted U cross-tie or anchor 10 as located on' axes in a horizontal level, it will be understood that this arrangement may be reversed and the apertures 4in the carrier iron vertical or side plate 6 placed in one horizontal level while the apertures in the inverted U-shaped cross-tie or anchor 10 are arranged in echelon or in offset position. Also I wish it understood that while I have shown an' adjustment for three positions I may .employ adjustments fora larger number of'positions Aand the number Aof posit-ions should ybe considered in Athe .illustrative sense and. not in the limiting sense.

The striker lconstituting the draft device of my invention is fabricated'by the coaction' of the striking bar 1 welded in a lrecess in the -end of the center sill 14 beneath which the striking bar gussets 3-extend. The gusset plates 3 are `tapered and abut the `inside surface of the top web ofthe center sill 14. The vertical plates 2 connected with the draft lug faces 12 and cheek plates 13 form the striker assembly. lThe formed gussets 4 reinforce the striker assembly and provide additional means for transm'itting' the buin'g forces on the striking bar 1 into the center sill 14. The lstriking bar l'extends past the vertical'webs =of the center sill where the top of the formed vertical plates 2--attach thereto. The lower outside edge of the striking bar 1is chamfered to clear the radius of the coupler horn Ywhen the draft gear is closed solid. The desired amount of clearance is maintained between the lower edge of the striking bar 1 and the top of the couplet` shank 11. The fabricated assembly ofthe striker is made possiblevby improved techniques in welding which permit 4'readyaccessto'somewhat obstructed parts of the assembly.

The structure of my invention has proven highly practical and while I have described my invention in certain of its preferred embodiments I realize that modications may be made and I desire that it be understood that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be limposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as Vnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A striking casting including a draft gear device, a `wearing member supporting said draft gear device, an anchor member independent of said wearing member and extending transversely of the striking casting and fixed thereto, and means depending downwardly from said wearing member and detachably eonnectible with opposite sides of .said anchor member for raising or lowering said wearing member uniformly at each end thereof for adjustably supporting said wearing member above said anchor member'and beneath said draft gear device for supporting said draft'gear device in a predetermined position.

V2. A striking casting as set forth in claim 1 in which said means Ydepending downwardly from said wearing member comprise a pair of side plates secured to the -sides of said wearing member and projecting on opposite sides of said anchor member and means extending transversely through said side plates and through said anchor memberV for securing said wearing member in predetermined relation above said anchor'member.

3. A striking casting as lset forth in claim 1 in which said anchorV member contains groups of transversely disposed aligned apertures and wherein the means -depending downwardly from said wearing member .comprises a plate member attached to each side of the wearing membery and depending'on each side `of said anchor member, said plate members each"having 'apertures'therein alignable with the apertures in said anchor member and pins insertable through the aligned apertures in said plate members and through the aligned apertures in the anchor member for supporting said wearing member in predetermined relation above said anchor member.

4. A striking casting as set forth in claim 1 in which said anchor member contains groups of transversely disposed aligned apertures and wherein said means depending downwardly from said wearing member comprises a plate member attached to each side of the wearing member and depending `on each side of said anchor member, said plate members each having apertures therein, said last mentioned apertures being arranged in echelon on axes displaced one below the other and alignable with the apertures in said anchor member and pins selectively insertable through aligned apertures in said plate members and said anchor member for supporting said wearing member in predetermined relation above said anchor member.

5. A striking casting as set forth in claim 1 in which said anchor member contains groups of transverselyI disposed aligned apertures and wherein said means depending downwardly from said wearing member comprises a plate member attached to each side of the wearing member and depending on each side of said anchor member, said plate members each having apertures therein, said last mentioned apertures being arranged in step-by-step formation on axes that converge outwardly from a central vertical plane through the draft gear device and pins selectively insertable through aligned apertures in said plate members and said anchor member for supporting said wearing member in predetermined relation above said anchor member.

6. A striking casting as set forth in claim 1 in which said anchor member is an inverted channel with the opposite sides thereof extending substantially coplanar with the front surface of the striking casting.

7. A striking casting as set forth in claim 1 in which said anchor member contains two groups of transverse apertures all located with the axes thereof in the same horizontal plane and wherein said means depending downwardly from said wearing member for adjustably supporting said wearing member above said anchor member comprises side plates containing transverse apertures located on axes disposed in offset horizontal planes, the said apertures in said side plates being horizontally alignable with the apertures in said anchor member for supporting said wearing member in various positions above said anchor member and Apins selectively insertable through aligned apertures in said side plates and through the apertures in said anchor member for supporting said wearing member in predetermined relation above said anchor member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,027,194 Flory May 2l, 1912 1,228,602 Rink June 5, 1917 2,271,907 Wilson Feb. 3, 1942 

